Nita Lowey: “this amendment, which is partially based upon the amendment I filed on behalf of myself, the gentleman from Maryland…”

“this amendment, which is partially based upon the amendment I filed on behalf of myself, the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest], the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle], the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone], the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Jones], the gentleman from New York [Mr. Boehlert], and the gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton], is in response to one simple fact: our coastal waters are in trouble. It is hard to read the newspaper lately and not come across a story about toxic Pfiesteria, brown tides, and ecological dead zones in our Nation's coastal waters. From the Long Island Sound to the Chesapeake Bay, from Louisiana to Oregon, fish kills, contaminated shellfish beds, beach closures, deteriorating coral reefs, and harmful algae blooms are taking an enormous toll both on the environment and the economies of our coastal areas. While the specific sources of coastal pollutants are not always clear, the leading cause of water quality impairment in these areas and all of our bays, lakes and rivers is nonpoint source pollution, polluted runoff from city streets, farms, and a variety of other sources. In fact, nonpoint pollution is our Nation's number one water pollution problem.”